[2.02] Detection of a Halo Around the Frosty Leo Nebula

High resolution (0.7 arc sec) optical imaging of the post-AGB object
IRAS 09371+1212 (The ``Frosty Leo Nebula'') has revealed a faint halo
of size 30 arc seconds
surrounding the main nebula. The halo is prominent in the
narrow band H$\alpha$ filter but weak in the broad V and I bands.
The near spherical shape of the halo is in sharp contrast to the
bipolar nature of the main nebula. If the halo represents
the remnant of the mass loss during the AGB, then the bipolar
morphology of the main nebula is probably the result of
dynamical shaping during the post-AGB phase.